February 11, 2026 – Nancy Guthrie search

What we covered here

• Day 11 of the search: Arizona law enforcement officials say they’ve received thousands of calls regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. The calls came after the FBI released doorbell camera footage from Guthrie’s front door that was taken the morning she disappeared.

• Detained person speaks out: A man who was released after being detained for questioning said he wants to clear his name. A search warrant connected to his property is sealed.

• Got information? Authorities have encouraged anyone with information or tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov.

Blood stains may have caused suspect to leave footprints, forensic expert says

Former Police Detective says the mask worn by the suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance is a key ‘error’

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As authorities comb through thousands of tips in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old’s home could still be providing leads for investigators to follow. Blood stains on the porch – which officials confirmed are Guthrie’s – suggest ways her kidnapper may have left traces behind, a forensic expert says.

“Blood is very sticky … if she’s leaving that blood stain on the step, I’m sure there was blood inside the house, which is wonderful for footwear,” former police detective Mike McCutcheon told CNN’s Laura Coates.

“You step in that, because you’re dealing with her, you’re in close proximity, you’re leaving those foot impressions behind,” McCutcheon said, noting forensic investigators have methods such as spraying certain chemicals to highlight traces of this type of evidence.

McCutcheon said the blood stains on the porch also give investigators insight into what happened.

“I would not be able to tell you how she was taken, but what I can tell you is that those are drip stains,” McCutcheon said, noting the relatively large size and uniform shape that suggests the blood was “falling at ninety degrees.”

“If it were an impact stain, blood coming off from a weapon … you’re going to have smaller stains and they’re going to have some direction. So there was some altercation that was in there that caused her to bleed, and that we can’t determine.”

Detainment of now-released man “diverted resources” in Guthrie search, former FBI official says

Former FBI Assistant Director: Nancy Guthrie investigators ‘aren’t as far along as I thought they were’

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Former FBI Assistant Director for the Criminal Investigative Division Chris Swecker said the detainment of a man in Rio Rico, Arizona, yesterday temporarily diverted a large amount of resources in the search for Nancy Guthrie.

“I don’t think it gave the real suspect an advantage, I just think it diverted … a significant amount of resources for half a day or so,” Swecker told CNN’s Laura Coates.

Swecker said he’s curious about what probable cause authorities laid out for their search warrant of a Rio Rico home tied to the man who was released. He said the incident may be indicative of the status of the overall investigation.

“If they have 8,000 leads and that was their best lead and they had to cut him loose, that makes me think that maybe they aren’t as far along as I thought they were,” Swecker continued.

FBI continues to search for evidence near Nancy Guthrie’s home. Here’s the latest

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

A member of the FBI surveils the area around Nancy Guthrie’s residence on Thursday.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

FBI agents were seen today scouring the rugged desert terrain surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home as the search for the missing 84-year-old woman continues for an 11th day.

Investigators are looking into leads as they dig into thousands of tips and probe nearby areas after a recovered doorbell video showed an armed, masked individual approach Guthrie’s home.

As investigators look for evidence, here is what we know so far:

Search continues near Guthrie home: FBI agents were out on the roads in Catalina Foothills, the unincorporated community north of Tucson, Arizona, searching for any evidence they could find. At one point, CNN saw agents searching near Guthrie’s home, keeping their eyes on the dusty desert floor while navigating thick brush and cacti. A New York Post reporter even witnessed agents pick up a dark glove off the side of the road about a mile and a half from Guthrie’s home, although it’s not clear if it is the same one seen in surveillance images released by the FBI.
Looking for evidence from person in video: With a possible glove in possession, law enforcement will now try to recover from it any DNA, fiber, hair or traces of plants, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst says, as authorities look at the type of backpack the person was seen wearing.
Scrutinizing the doorbell video: Images released by the FBI of the armed person who approached Guthrie’s home give investigators new tools beyond what the person was wearing, including their preparedness – or lack thereof – and how the person behaves, experts say.
Tips flooding in: The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has received over 18,000 tips since Guthrie was reported missing, which leaves investigators undergoing an intensive process to figure out which tips to prioritize.
FBI investigating “persons of interest”: FBI agents are looking into “persons of interest” in relation to Guthrie’s disappearance, Director Kash Patel said on Fox last night, although he didn’t say who might be under suspicion. The sheriff’s department today said a man detained for questioning as part of “a follow-up on incoming leads” yesterday afternoon was released after speaking with investigators.

Sen. Mark Kelly urges anyone with information on Nancy Guthrie to come forward

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona spoke to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins today about the search for Nancy Guthrie, urging anyone with information to call law enforcement.

Here’s how law enforcement is handling the 18,000 tips that have come in on Nancy Guthrie

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exits the press room past a missing persons poster after giving an update on the investigation after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on February 5.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters

At least 18,000 tips have poured into the Pima County Sheriff’s Department since February 1, the day Nancy Guthrie was reported missing. How does law enforcement get through so many tips?

Two people with experience in the FBI gave some insight to CNN’s Anderson Cooper into what the process usually looks like.

People who are trained to look at tips do an assessment of each submission and prioritize what needs to come first, said retired FBI hostage negotiator Richard Kolko. “You’re not going to just do them in the order they come in,” he added.

All of these tips are handled by real humans, added John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst. These people will do more research on the tip, including running an address, finding phone numbers or other records, and will provide the information to the law enforcement agents who go into the field, he said.

The tips will be divided among law enforcement officials so they can investigate their portion of tips, Kolko said.

“Ideally instead of sheriff’s guys going with sheriff’s guys and FBI goes with FBI, you would pair them up, agent and sheriff together, and send teams out so everybody’s getting the same information back,” Miller said. Once they follow up on those leads, law enforcement will come back and file paperwork on what they found so it goes into a larger system, Kolko said.

Just since the images and video of the armed individual at Guthrie’s front door were released, 4,000 calls have come in to the tip lines, Miller said. Even if 5% of those leads were actionable, it would result in a couple hundred leads, he added.

Nancy Guthrie’s neighbor says video of masked person is “terrifying”

Nancy Guthrie’s neighbor says video of masked person is “terrifying”

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Laura Gargano, who has lived around the corner from Nancy Guthrie for more than a decade, says seeing the video footage of a masked man outside her neighbor’s home was “terrifying.”

“I just immediately looked to see if the shape looked familiar to me,” she told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

Gargano said she advised investigators to search Guthrie’s roof and septic tank.

Investigators looking at the type of backpack in Nancy Guthrie video, officials say

From CNN’s John Miller and Jeff Winter

The masked subject seen on video recovered from Guthrie’s doorbell camera and released by the FBI, shows the person wearing a backpack.
FBI

Investigators are looking at the type of backpack the person was carrying in Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera footage, law enforcement officials told CNN.

The backpack appears to be an Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, according to a CNN analysis. Ozark Trail is Walmart’s private-label outdoor brand.

Glove recovered by agents was found discarded near Nancy Guthrie’s home, NY Post reporter says

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow

A glove recovered by authorities amid the search for Nancy Guthrie was found about a mile and a half from her home, the New York Post reporter who was there when the item was found told CNN.

“We were just in the right place at the right time,” Georgia Worrell told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

Worrell said she and the photographer working with her saw a black object on the side of the road, and as they got closer, they thought it might be a glove.

“It had just been discarded on the side of the road,” Worrell said.

It wasn’t until after they were able to see the photographer’s high-resolution photos that they confirmed it was a glove.

The item was bagged as evidence, Worrell said.

It is not clear whether authorities believe it to be the same glove worn by the person seen in doorbell camera footage released by the FBI.

The FBI declined a request for comment from CNN.

The terrain around Guthrie’s home is rough, making it easy to miss things, Bob Krygier, former commander for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department SWAT, told Burnett.

Tip callers should think about what they saw before and after abduction, ex-profiler says

From CNN’s Elise Hammond

Nancy Guthrie’s residence is seen on Tuesday in Tucson, Arizona.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

As people in the community consider whether they have observed anything that could help investigators find out what happened to Nancy Guthrie, they should expand their scope, said Gregg McCrary, a former FBI profiler.

Residents should think about what they’ve seen both before and after the abduction, not just about what is included on the video from Guthrie’s doorstep, he said.

McCrary said this appears to be a targeted crime and “he just didn’t knock on the door randomly and bump into Ms. Guthrie.”

“If anybody was fixated or talking about her or the Guthries or anything like that, that’s one thing to consider,” he said.

After the abduction, the person may have made an excuse to explain why his routine has changed, McCrary said. The individual could have said he was going out of town or going on vacation, he said.

If he is still in the area, he’s likely very stressed, according to McCrary.

“He didn’t anticipate this video coming out. This is going to be elevating his stress level, so he’s going to be rigid, overcontrolled, didn’t have time to talk, those sorts of things,” he said.

Authorities have encouraged anyone with information or tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov.

FBI agents searched area near Nancy Guthrie’s house

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow, Ed Lavandera and Bonney Kapp

FBI agents this afternoon searched near Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson-area house, keeping their eyes trained on the ground as they navigated thick brush and cacti.

Authorities told a CNN crew at the scene that agents were searching the land along the road where Guthrie’s home is located.

Agents walked the area in front of a mass of cameras, the number of media crews exceeding the number of agents on the scene, the CNN team reported.

The terrain where agents were scouring is rough and includes several tall saguaro cacti.

A number of FBI teams walked the blocks and streets around the area, looking through the landscape, walking among thick brush and avoiding wildlife native to the desert terrain, video from the CNN crew showed.

How officials are scrutinizing doorbell video for clues, according to analysts

From CNN’s Elise Hammond

The FBI has released images from a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s house, showing a person who appears to be wearing a mask.
FBI

One of the first things investigators likely did after recovering Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera footage was assess the quality of the video, said Edward Baker, a forensic video analyst. Because it was taken at night on a camera with an infrared filter, they’ll also have to account for the colors of the person’s clothes and other identifying details being skewed, he said.

Investigators are also likely analyzing the behavior of the person in the video, said Frank Figliuzzi, a former assistant director of the FBI counterintelligence division.

The person is carrying a backpack and is fully covered with a ski mask, gloves and a zipped-up jacket, indicating a degree of preparation, Figliuzzi said.

“This does lead to the possibility of a legit kidnap,” he said. “I’m not sure about a legit ransom plan, but that does mean” Guthrie could still be alive.

On the other hand, certain things seem unplanned, Figliuzzi said, pointing to the person’s apparent surprise at the doorbell camera and attempt to cover the lens with foliage.

Now that this video is public, Jim Clemente, a retired FBI profiler, said it could lead to the person to start acting differently – which could stick out to people who know him.

“I think especially since yesterday his stress level is probably through the roof,” Clemente said. The person may also be changing their appearance, such as by cutting their hair and shaving.

NY Post: Investigators find black glove near Nancy Guthrie’s home

From CNN’s Amanda Musa

Investigators in the Nancy Guthrie case have seemingly recovered a black glove while searching the area near her home, the New York Post reported.

It is not clear if authorities believe it to be the same glove worn by the person seen in doorbell camera footage released by the FBI, which declined a request for comment from CNN.

The New York Post published a photo of what it reported was the glove, which was found less than two miles from Guthrie’s home, according to the outlet.

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to CNN’s request for comment, saying “We do not have any details to confirm regarding this inquiry.”

The recovery of the item leads to a lot of investigative questions, said John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst.

If the glove is similar to the one seen in the video, investigators will want to see if it is possible to recover DNA, fiber, hair and traces of the plant that was used to cover up the camera, Miller told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

But even if it’s not the glove seen in the video, “it should be probative anyway,” he added.

What we learned today about the investigation into Guthrie’s abduction

From CNN’s Elise Hammond

An investigator searches the area near Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills on Wednesday.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters

Investigators are sifting through a flood of calls as they race to find Nancy Guthrie.

Officials are also searching in new places across the area after a person was detained and released last night.

Here’s what we learned this afternoon:

Flood of tips: Nearly 18,000 calls related to the Guthrie case have come through to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s tip line since she was reported missing February 1, the department said. FBI agents are searching around Guthrie’s house for any items the person seen on her doorbell camera may have dropped, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CNN.
Man questioned: The sheriff’s department said it detained and released a man last night as “part of follow-up on incoming leads.” The man was known to investigators before the doorbell camera was made public, a law enforcement official familiar with the case told CNN.
What he has said: The man, who identified himself as Carlos, told reporters outside his home that he wanted to “clear my name.” Investigators told him “that my eyes and my eyelashes looked the same” as the person in the video from Guthrie’s home, he said. He told CNN affiliate KNXV that he was questioned for several hours.
Where else investigators are searching: Investigators have completed a search of a property in Rio Rico, the sheriff’s department said. A woman previously told CNN that it was her home and authorities were investigating her son-in-law. There has been no activity today around the man’s home and the search warrant connected to him is sealed.
New letter: TMZ reported it received a letter this morning from someone purporting to know who Guthrie’s kidnapper is and demanding a single bitcoin in exchange for that information. TMZ says it has handed the new email note over to the FBI. There is currently a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie.
“Persons of interest”: The FBI is looking at multiple “persons of interest” in the case, according to the agency’s director, Kash Patel. He did not say who might be under suspicion, but said authorities were going through the process of elimination.

What do you want to know? Submit your questions about the case here and CNN’s Laura Coates will answer them during a live one-hour special tonight.

From CNN’s Josh Campbell, Norma Galeana, Andy Rose, Chris Boyette, Rebekah Riess, Devon Sayers and Amanda Musa contributed reporting to this post.

Do you have questions about the investigation? CNN’s Laura Coates will answer them tonight

Tonight on CNN, Laura Coates will present a live one-hour special, “The Search For Nancy Guthrie.” The special will air on CNN and CNN All Access at 11 p.m. ET.

The special will include fresh reporting from the Tucson, Arizona, crime scene and analysis from former top FBI officials, profilers and forensic analysts.

Coates and her team will also be answering questions about the investigation. You can submit yours in the form below:

Man detained last night was on investigators’ radar before release of images, source says

From CNN’s Elise Hammond

Officials were already looking into the man they detained last night when they publicly released video and photos of a person tampering with Nancy Guthrie’s front door camera earlier in the day, a law enforcement official familiar with the case told CNN.

The man, who identified himself as Carlos, “was the subject of a lead that they had been working on prior to the release of the video and that information was developed to the point where they felt, let’s get him in, let’s sit him down and have a conversation,” CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller said.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said today in a statement it detained a man for questioning and that he was released. It is not identifying the man because he was not charged, the statement said.

“This detention was part of follow-up on incoming leads,” the sheriff’s department said.

Some more context: Carlos was questioned from about 4 p.m. to midnight, he previously told CNN affiliate KXNV.

The sheriff’s department and FBI have declined to comment on Carlos’ account or confirm he is the man who the sheriff’s department said was detained for questioning yesterday.

Nearly 18,000 calls received in Guthrie case since disappearance, Pima Co. sheriff says

From CNN’s Amanda Musa

In an aerial view, a law enforcement vehicle is stationed outside of Nancy Guthrie’s residence on Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says thousands of tips related to the Nancy Guthrie case have flooded its tip line in recent days, according to a Wednesday update.

PCSD received nearly 18,000 calls since Sunday, February 1 — the day Guthrie was reported missing, a statement said.

More than 4,000 of those calls have come in the last 24 hours, the update said.

County officials thanked the public for their commitment to providing leads as hundreds of detectives and agents work the case, the statement continued.

In the same update, officials said the man questioned yesterday was “part of follow-up on incoming leads.”

“As with any investigation, we do not release the identities of individuals who are detained and later released without charges,” the statement said.

Search warrant for property of man detained for questioning is sealed

From CNN’s Devon Sayers and Andy Rose

The search warrant connected to a man detained for questioning yesterday in the investigation of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is sealed, according to the clerk of the Pima County Superior Court.

The man, who has identified himself as Carlos, told reporters today he has a copy of the warrant, but he declined to share it.

Carlos said he was held for questioning for eight hours as his home and vehicle were searched before he was released. Investigators have not commented on his account or confirmed his identity.

No charges have been filed in the case, and the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have not identified any suspects.

Man detained yesterday by investigators says he wants to clear his name

From CNN’s Norma Galeana and Andy Rose

Man detained by investigators says he wants to clear his name

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A man in Rio Rico, Arizona, who says he was detained yesterday for questioning in the investigation of Nancy’s Guthrie disappearance spoke to reporters outside his home again today.

Asked what he wants following the interrogation, the man who identified himself as Carlos responded, “To clear my name. That’s all I want.”

Carlos said his mother-in-law was told by an investigator he was stopped Tuesday as a result of an anonymous tip following yesterday’s release of Nest camera video from Nancy Guthrie’s home.

“They said that my eyes and my eyelashes looked the same,” he said.

Carlos said he was shocked when the investigators told him why they wanted to question him regarding his recent whereabouts.

“It’s about a kidnapping,” Carlos said an FBI agent told him, to which he said he responded, “What the f**k? I didn’t kidnap no one.”

Carlos said after questioning him and searching his home and vehicle, investigators gave no indication they planned to return. He said he was questioned from about 4 p.m. to midnight, as he previously told CNN affiliate KXNV.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI have declined to comment on Carlos’ account or confirm he is the man who the sheriff’s department said was detained for questioning yesterday.

FBI searching roads near Nancy Guthrie’s house looking for evidence linked to person seen on doorbell camera

From CNN’s Chris Boyette and Josh Campbell

Law enforcement agents check vegetation areas around Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday.
Ty ONeil/AP

Numerous FBI agents are “conducting an extensive search” along the roads near Nancy Guthrie’s home in Catalina Foothills, the unincorporated community north of Tucson, Arizona, the FBI said Wednesday.

Agents and officers are searching for any items the person seen on doorbell camera video may have discarded, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CNN.

“We appreciate the assistance and support we have received from the Tucson community,” the FBI said.

It has been almost a week since authorities briefed the media on the search for Nancy Guthrie

From CNN’s Chris Boyette

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks during a press conference in Tucson, Arizona, on February 5.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters

There are no news conferences planned regarding the search for Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said today, marking nearly a week since authorities have briefed the media.

Guthrie disappeared 11 days ago.

Authorities’ last briefing was February 5. The sheriff’s office said it will call a news conference “should a significant development occur.”

TMZ says it received note demanding bitcoin for information on Guthrie’s kidnapper

From CNN’s Rebekah Riess

TMZ is reporting it received a “bizarre letter” via email earlier this morning from someone purporting to know who Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper is and demanding a single bitcoin in exchange for that information.

TMZ, along with CNN affiliates KOLD and KGUN, also received the initial ransom notes for Guthrie.

“The letter essentially says, ‘I’ve tried to get in touch with Savannah’s brother and sister, to no avail,’” TMZ founder Harvey Levin told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “They said if they want to get the name of the individual who is involved in this kidnaping, send the bitcoin.”

The letter then ends with, “time is more than relevant,” Levin said, adding that there is nothing in the letter that suggests whether or not the person actually knows who the kidnapper is.

TMZ reported the bitcoin address in the letter is real and different than the one in a previous ransom note it received.

“There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to the kidnappers or for the recovery of Nancy Guthrie. You could do that by calling that number and providing the information and qualifying for the reward,” CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller said. “Coming at this sideways, and using the anonymity of an anonymous email and the anonymity of ‘pay me and then I’ll tell you,’ leaves no guarantee.”

A single bitcoin is currently worth around $66,000.

TMZ reports it received the note just before 8 a.m. ET, and has handed it over to the FBI.

When asked by CNN about the new note, the FBI said, “Outside of our previously issued statements, we have no updates to share at this time.”

CNN has not been able to independently verify the existence or authenticity of the note and has reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for comment.

This post has been updated with Levin’s comments to CNN.

Makeshift display shows support for Nancy Guthrie’s return as case enters day 11

From CNN’s Chris Boyette

Flowers are seen outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday.
CNN

A makeshift tribute outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home shows support for the family as the investigation into her abduction enters its 11th day.

It has been growing throughout the afternoon as people come by and add more to the display. There are now several arrangements of yellow roses and other flowers in vases.

A CNN crew at the scene this morning saw a man leaving pink flowers next to the candles and signs reading ‘Please pray” and “Your neighbors stand with you.” The makeshift display has grown by a few items since a couple days ago.

Investigators have still not been able to locate the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Authorities have encouraged anyone with information or tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov.

This post has bene updated with new details about the tribute.

Releasing images can alert the suspect, but it’s necessary to get leads, CNN analyst says

Former police chief on the clues from Guthrie’s Nest camera that stand out to him

03:43

While releasing images and videos, like the ones of the masked person outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home, can alert the suspect in the case, the payoff is putting those images in front of more people, according to CNN senior law enforcement analyst Charles Ramsey.

“When you get to a point where you just don’t know who they are, you don’t have any leads, that you believe at the time, will lead you directly to that person – you’re going to release it to the public,” said the former chief of police for Washington, DC. “When you crowdsource something like that, it means an awful lot.”

No law enforcement activity seen today at home of man briefly detained in Guthrie investigation

From CNN’s Norma Galeana and Andy Rose

After Tuesday’s whirlwind of activity in the investigation of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the scene is quiet this morning outside the home of the man who was briefly detained for questioning by investigators yesterday.

On a serene street in Rio Rico, Arizona, the wrought iron gates were closed to the driveway of the house occupied by a man who identified himself to reporters as Carlos. He told CNN affiliate KNXV he was questioned about his whereabouts for four hours Tuesday and then released.

No law enforcement vehicles were seen in the neighborhood this morning. A delivery van with a name matching the company Carlos said he works for was parked along the street next to the home.

Carlos told reporters yesterday he may have delivered something to Nancy Guthrie’s home at some point but did not know who she is and had no involvement in her disappearance.

Investigators acknowledged detaining a “subject” for questioning yesterday but have not commented on the account given by Carlos.

Why did it take the FBI so long to get video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home

Obtaining video footage of a masked man outside Nancy Guthrie’s home, a major breakthrough in the case, largely came down to Google’s technical expertise, a person familiar with the investigation told CNN.

The FBI released the images within hours of obtaining them, an official said on X. However, the process was so technically complex that investigators were unsure if it would be successful, the source said.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos initially said there was “no video available” because Guthrie “had no subscription” to Google’s video recording service, which keeps videos from Nest cameras accessible in Google’s cloud.

Yesterday, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social media that authorities, “working closely with our private sector partners,” recovered some video “from residual data located in backend systems” in the Guthrie case.

Patel says FBI investigating “persons of interest” in Guthrie case

From CNN’s Josh Campbell

FBI agents are looking at more than one individual as a “person of interest” in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, told Fox News last night.

“We are looking at people who, as we say, are persons of interest,” Patel said.

Patel did not elaborate on who might be under suspicion, but said authorities were undergoing a process to eliminate anyone who may not actually be involved.

Patel said the FBI’s outreach to the private sector has shown “there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event.”

The FBI’s first priority is finding Guthrie, Patel said, and “right behind that is to find anyone and any others involved in this kidnapping case to make sure they’re brought to justice.”

Learn more about the latest on the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance.

Here’s what’s happened since video of a masked man outside Guthrie’s home was released

From CNN’s Rebekah Riess

There have been an number of developments since the FBI yesterday released doorbell camera footage from outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door, showing a masked, armed person.

Here’s what’s new this morning:

“Persons of interest”: FBI Director Kash Patel yesterday said the agency is looking at “persons of interest” in the case. He did not say who might be under suspicion, but said authorities were going through the process of elimination.
Person detained near the border: A subject was stopped “during a traffic stop south of Tucson,” and was questioned in connection to the Nancy Guthrie investigation,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in an X post. The person, questioned overnight, was detained near the border, in Rio Rico, a law enforcement official added.
Search warrant: Investigators completed their search of a property in Rio Rico, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said. A woman previously told CNN that it was her home that was being searched and that authorities were investigating her son-in-law.
Detained person released: A man, who identified himself to the The New York Times only as Carlos, says he was released without charges after being detained for questioning in the investigation and told reporters he was shocked at being connected to the case. “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” Carlos told reporters as he returned home, according to a video from New York Times reporter Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs. Carlos told CNN affiliate KNXV that as a delivery driver, he might have delivered a package to Guthrie’s home, but he didn’t know her.

Man released after being detained for questioning in Guthrie case speaks to reporters

From CNN’s Martin Goillandeau and Kara Fox

A man, who identified himself to the The New York Times only as Carlos, says he was released without charges after being detained for questioning in the Nancy Guthrie investigation and told reporters he was shocked at being connected to the case.

“I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it. They better do their job and find the suspect that did it so they can clear my name, and I’m done,” Carlos told reporters as he returned home, according to a video from New York Times reporter Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs. “Look at what I’m putting my family through. Not just them, even my parents in Tucson,” he adds, gesturing to the home behind him.

The man told CNN affiliate KNXV that he was held in custody from around 4 p.m. to after midnight, and was asked questions “like where I was, what hours,” before being told, “I’m free to go.”

Tuesday night, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said a man had been detained for questioning and they were executing a search warrant at a location in Rio Rico, Arizona. Hours later, the sheriff’s department said the search was completed but did not provide an update on the person detained for questioning.

The man who was questioned has not been identified by authorities. The FBI referred questions about him to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which CNN has contacted for comment.

When asked how he felt after investigators told him why he’d been detained as part of the Guthrie investigation, Carlos answers: “What the f**k am I doing here? I didn’t do anything. To be honest, I’m innocent.”

Carlos told KNXV that as a delivery driver, he might have delivered a package to Guthrie’s home, but he didn’t know her.

Asked by a reporter if he had ever heard Nancy Guthrie’s name before, he responded: “Never until today.”

Abductions of older Americans are rare, statistics show

From CNN’s Elise Hammond

The abduction of Nancy Guthrie has brought national attention to the kidnapping of older Americans, but FBI statistics show such cases are rare, especially for adults over 50.

In 2025, there were more than 49,000 cases of abductions and kidnappings in the United States, according to the FBI. Victims 50 and older accounted for only 10% of those cases.

There were only 145 cases in Guthrie’s age group — 80 to 89 years old — according to statistics. Guthrie, who is 84, is without critical medication as the search continues, officials said. Law enforcement has emphasized that her age and health concerns make finding her quickly especially important.

Yesterday, officials released a video showing a person tampering with Guthrie’s front door camera before she was reported missing. Her family did not recognize the individual, according to NBC.

This is another factor that makes the Guthrie case so uncommon. Most abductions do not involve strangers; only about 9% of all kidnappings and abductions last year were committed by someone unknown to the victim, according to the FBI.

Separately, the NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics report for 2024 found that of 258,849 missing persons cases that year, only 4% involved adults.

A vast majority — 95% — were runaways, according to the report. About 0.9% were classified as abductions by a non-custodial parent, and 0.1% as abductions by a stranger, the statistics show.

How AI can help identify person in video at Nancy Guthrie’s house

CNN’s Erin Burnett talks to AI expert Kristian Hammond about how technology will be used to identify the person who abducted Nancy Guthrie.

How you can contact authorities if you have tips

A missing person poster for Nancy Guthrie is seen including images of a masked person at her home.
FBI

Officials have outlined several ways people can contact law enforcement if they have any actionable tips regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie: 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov.

After the FBI released new surveillance video showing a masked person at Guthrie’s front door the night she disappeared, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department asked the public only call 911 or their non-emergency line if they have actionable tips. Those lines, they said, the are “not the appropriate venue” for “opinions or commentary.”

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department recognizes that members of the community may have thoughts, opinions, feelings or questions regarding the Nancy Guthrie case,” the department said in a post on X

The person questioned over Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has been released. Here’s the latest

From CNN’s Jessie Yeung

Authorities have released a person who was being questioned in Rio Rico, about 60 miles south of Tucson near the Mexico border, according to CNN affiliate KNXV. Law enforcement also searched a car and a home in the town.

Authorities have still not been able to locate the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Here’s a timeline of all the developments since her disappearance.

Here’s what we know:

Detained person released: The person released by law enforcement after being detained for questioning was stopped during a traffic stop in Rio Rico. The man said “he didn’t even know who this woman (Nancy Guthrie) was, that he works as a delivery driver,” CNN affiliate KNXV reporter Lillian Donahue told CNN’s Rosemary Church.
Search warrant: Investigators have completed their search of a property in Rio Rico, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said. A woman previously told CNN that it was her home that was being searched and that authorities were investigating her son-in-law.
“Persons of interest”: Earlier on Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is looking at “persons of interest” in the case. He did not say who might be under suspicion, but said authorities were going through the process of elimination.
Door cam footage: Also on Tuesday, the FBI released doorbell camera footage from outside Guthrie’s front door taken the night she disappeared, showing a masked, armed person. Engineers at Google, which owns the doorbell camera maker Nest, were able to recover data after several days.

What to know about the surveillance footage of a man at Nancy Guthrie’s front door released by FBI

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow

Watch the new surveillance videos from Nancy Guthrie’s home

01:31

The FBI released images and videos of a person at Nancy Guthrie’s front door yestrday.

Here’s what to know:

What the video shows: The video appears to show the masked individual tampering with the camera. At one point, the person picks up what appear to be plants from the front yard and covers the camera with them.
Reward: The FBI is still offering a $50,000 reward for information about Nancy Guthrie or her captor. The agency released a new missing person poster featuring the images of the subject at the door.
New video from a pleading daughter: Minutes after law enforcement released the images taken from the front porch of Nancy Guthrie’s home, Savannah Guthrie reposted the photos and video on her Instagram account with a message from her family. “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah Guthrie wrote.
What is the person wearing? The individual in the video is wearing a mask, gloves and a backpack. The person appears to be armed, and the “universal nylon style holster” is not the type of holster someone who regularly carries a gun would use, according to a former police captain.